MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – The King University women's cross country team is once again Conference Carolinas champions. The Tornado won their first conference title since 2014 on Saturday at Mount Olive. Kirstin Barton led a trio of all-conference performers with a runner-up finish.
THE BASICS
KING RESULTS: 1st of 12
LOCATION: University of Mount Olive; Mount Olive, N.C.
DISTANCE: 6k
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Barton crossed the tape in a personal record 6k time of 23:12.0 to finish runner-up and earn first team all-conference accolades.
- That is her highest finish at the conference championship in her career and second straight first team all-conference honor.
- Kaitlin Rivera earned all-conference honors for the first time, finishing ninth to garner second team honors. She finished in 24:25.0.
- Freshman Katy Neubert garnered third team all-conference honors, finishing 14th. She covered the course in a personal record time of 24:43.4.
- Rebekah Thomas finished 19th with a time of 25:19.4.
- Not far behind was Meg Davis who covered the distance in 25:20.0 to take 20th.
- Grayson Howe posted a personal record with a time of 26:37.5 to finish 36th.
- Crossing the finish line next was Brianna Barrett with a time of 27:39.4.
- Audrey McCormick came in with a time of 28:52.3.
- Rounding out the team was Emily Sutherland and Andrea Stansberry who finished with times of 32:17.7 and 33:24.6.
FOR THE FOES
- King won the team conference title while Erskine College finished second and Southern Wesleyan University took third.
- Leah Hanle of Mount Olive was the individual champion with a time of 21:23.8.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The conference title for the Tornado is their first since 2014 and fourth in program history. King won the Conference Carolinas title in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
- First-year head coach Nathan Meeuwenberg was named Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.
- King had at least three all-conference runners for the fourth time in program history with the last time coming in 2014.
UP NEXT
- King takes to the course again on November 9 at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional hosted by Wingate University in Wingate, N.C. The race is scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m.
